Improved sash supporter and fastener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HOPKINS, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

IIVIPROVED SASH SUPPORTER AND FASTENR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,354, dated May l, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs HOPKINS, of Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sash Supporters and Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specilication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the invention, I will proceed to describe it.

The nature of my invention consists in constructin g a double cam having one end made heavier than the other, and applying it to the sashin such a manner that it will serve as a support to hold the sash up and also as a lock to fasten itA down. It also further consists in a novel device for attaching it to the sash or frame.

Figure l is a front view of a window with my improved device applied. Figs. 2 and 3 represent details of the same, like letters indieating like parts in the various figures.

A represents a side view of my fastenings, which may be made of cast-iron or other suitable material, substantially in the form there shown.

It will be observed that the upper end, b, of the fastening A is made much heavier than the opposite end, a, so that when turned to either side of a perpendicular line passing' through its axis c the weight of the end b will overbalance that of the opposite end, a. When turned to the left, as shown, the weight of b keeps that end of the fastener against the frame, and as the face of the end is corrugated or notched, it takes hold upon the projection c, or, in the absence of such projection, upon the frame itself, and thereby prevents the window or sash from being raised.

When itis desired to have it operate as a supporter to hold the sash up the end b is'.

is thrown outward, as shown in red, thereby holding the opposite end, a., againstthe frame, and it then locks or braces against the frame or projections c, and holds the sash up, as shown.

.It is obvious that by fastening it nearer to or farther from the frame it may be made to take hold upon the wood of the frame more or less, and thus-3 hold the sash in position without the use of the'vnails or projections c; but fasteniugs thus used are apt to bruise the wood or mar the paint, and such a methodv of using them is objectionable. By using nails or other metallic projections for the end of the fastener A to rest against, as shown, I obviate this objection, and at the same time render the fastening more secure.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the fastener, taken on the line x x of Fig. l, showing a stud,

'0, having a journal on its outer end fit-ting into a recess formed on the under surface of the fastener A, and provided with the spurs or points n on its opposite side, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. l

To apply the fastening, the stud o is placed at the proper point on the sash and the screw c is inserted through the fastener A, and also through the center of the stud, and then screwed into the sash. The screw c is provided with a shoulder which presses against the small end of the stud o, thereby forcing the spurs n into the wood and holding it firmly to its place, the portion of the screw extending through the fastener A being of such a length as to leave the latter loose thereon, and permit it to turn freely to and fro.

The bearing-surface of both ends, a and b, where they press against the frame are corrugated or roughened to prevent their slipping and letting the sash fall or be raised improperly.

It is obvious that this, like all similar fastenings, may be secured to the frame and made to lock or press against the sash with the same results; and in some cases it may be preferable to so attach it.

By this improvement I am enabled to pro duce a very simple'yet efficient device that can be furnished very cheaply and that answers the double purpose of a sash-supporter and also a lock to fasten the sash down. It has no springs or other parts liable to become 2. The combination of the stud o, provided with the journal, the shouldered screw o, and the double-faced cam or brace A, all arranged and operating as herein described.

JAMES HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

J oHN S. DEAN, JUSTIN E. REEDE. 

